Toluene derivatives are often found in drug-like molecules, and are therefore desirable as radiolabelled moieties. The desire for an alternate to the Stille coupling led us to investigate the feasibility of the Suzuki coupling. We have found the Suzuki coupling route to be a robust alternative to the Stille coupling for the synthesis of functionalized [11C]toluene derivatives from [11C]methyl iodide. The avoidance of potentially toxic tin-containing by-products is an added advantage.